Adjustable bridge for sealing machines



Sept. 30, 1969 A. F. CRONE ADJUSTABLE BRIDGE FOR SEALING MACHINES ssheets-sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, l97

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Sept. 30, 1969 A- F. CRONE ADJUSTABLE BRIDGE FOR SEALING MACHINES 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 21, 1967 WflNVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS P 30, 1969 A. F. CRONE 3,469,511

ADJUSTABLE BRIDGE FOR SEALING MACHINES Filed Nov. 21, 196'? 3Sheets-Sheet 5 N R Q l\ & g; a 5m I l V) m E? 4"\ Y N W ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,469,511 ADJUSTABLE BRIDGE FOR SEALING MACHINESAlfred F. Crone, Williamsville, N.Y., assignor to Acme Highway ProductsCorporation, Buffalo, N.Y. Filed Nov. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 684,659 Int.Cl. E01c 23/02, 23/06 US. Cl. 9451 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREWhen installing elastic sealing strips or the like in transversepavement joints between slabs or blocks of concrete in a highway,airport or other structure, an apparatus is employed that is movableacross the pavement from side to side thereof and this apparatus musttherefore start the strips beyond one edge of the pavement. The purposeof this disclosure is to provide means mounted on the apparatus forsupporting the same beyond one edge of a pavement before starting theinstallation of a sealing strip and then enabling the apparatus to bereturned to the pavement for installing the strips.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus for inserting seals in apavament groove and having attached thereto a bridge or supportingstructure movable into a position to support the apparatus when movedbeyond an edge of a pavement, and showing the bridge in position beyondthe pavement to support the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the supporting structure in itsoperative position.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof showing the bridgemounted on the apparatus.

FIG. 4- is a rear sectional elevation thereof having parts broken awayshowing the bridge and taken along the line 4--4, FIG. 1.

The mechanism for supporting the apparatus may be applied to any desiredapparatus for inserting seals in pavement grooves. The apparatus shownby way of example is similar to that illustrated in patent applicationof Bowman and Berchow Ser. No. 582,633, filed Sept. 28, 1966 and whichincludes ground or supporting wheels 5 and '6 which support a frame 7 onwhich is mounted a reel 8 on which a sealing strip 9 is wound and fromwhich the strip is unwound and passes through guide means 10 to atransverse groove 12 in the pavement 11. The inserting apparatus alsohas a guide wheel 14 at the front end thereof which moves in the groove12, and 15 represents an inserting wheel which is also mounted to extendinto the groove 12 and press the seal 9 into the groove. The rear groundwheels are mounted on an axle 17 which, in accordance with thisinvention, extends beyond the outer faces of the rear ground wheels 6.

My improved bridge or supporting member is mounted on the seal-insertingapparatus in such a way as to be normally supported on the apparatusduring the inserting of a seal in a pavement and to drop below the edgeof the pavement to support the apparatus when its wheel 6 approaches theedge. Any suitable means may be employed for so supporting the bridge onthe apparatus and in the construction shown I have mounted the bridgepivotally on the apparatus. For example, the bridge may include a pairof longitudinally extending frame members or beams 20 and 21 having apivotal connection with the seal-inserting apparatus. In theconstruction shown projections are provided on the apparatus forcooperation with the bridge member about which this member may swingabout the apparatus. For example, the shaft or axle 17 of the apparatusmay extend outwardly at op- 3,469,51 l Patented Sept. 30, 1969 positesides beyond the ground wheels 6, and the beams 20 and 21 are pivoted onthese extensions of the axle. For example, the beams may be providedwith slots 22 extending mainly lengthwise of these beams and into whichthe ends of the axle 17 extend to hold the bridge member in correctrelation to the apparatus. These beams are consequently pivotallymounted on the extensions of the axle 17 and may be lowered beyond theedge of the pavement to form supports for the ground wheels of theapparatus. The beams 20 and 21 have secured thereto tracks or channels25 on which the ground wheels 6 may ride when the beams 20 and 21 arelowered into their substantially horizontal supporting positions beyondthe edge of the pavement, as shown in FIG. 1.

Suitable means are provided for the supporting outer parts of the bridgeon the subgrade 26 beyond the pavement 11, and in the construction shownI have provided legs 27 pivoted preferably under the channels 25 on therod or shaft 28 on the bridge or extension. These legs are preferablyadjustable in length and for this purpose may be provided withadjustable, lower ends 29, those shown having a screw threadedconnection with the upper parts of the legs so that the length of thelegs may be varied as may be necessary to compensate for unevenness ofthe subgrade or shoulder 26.

Before the bridge is swung downwardly into its operative,apparatus-supporting position, the legs are swung about the pivots 28into downwardly extending positions and may be removably held in suchpositions in any suitable manner, for example, by means of latches orlocks 32 at opposite sides of the bridge, which are adapted to engagewith projections 33 on the upper leg portions 27.

The legs at opposite sides of the bridge are connected by means of ashaft or rod 35 to which is attached .a coil spring 36, the other end ofwhich is connected to a part of the bridge structure. Consequently, whenthe latches 32 are out of engaging positions, the spring will urge bothof the legs into upper positions, as shown in FIG. 3. Since the two legsare connected by the rod or shaft 35, only one of the two latches 32 isrequired to lock both legs in their operative positions or to unlockthem so that they may be swung into inoperative positions by the spring36.

I have also provided means on the bridge for guiding the movement of theinserting apparatus in such a manner .as to keep the apparatus inalinement with the groove in the pavement when moved rearwardly beyondthe edge of the pavement. These guide means include a pair of angle bars40 and 41 which are spaced apart to receive between them the insertionwheel 15. The insertion apparatus is guided manually by means of ahandle 42 and the operator can consequently guide the apparatus so thatthe insertion wheel will fit between the angle bars 40 and 41 which maybe provided with converging ends 44 to assist the operator inpositioning the insertion wheel into the space between the angle bars 40and 41. These angle bars have their downwardly extending flangesextending into .and secured to a channel bar 45. The bridge member isprovided with transversely extending, reinforcing beams 47 and 48 whichare secured to the troughshaped guides or tracks 25. 49 representsbraces which extend from the beam 47 to the trough or track members 25.The transverse frame member 47 is formed in two halves, the middleportions of which are spaced apart and welded or otherwise secured tothe angle bars 40 and 41, to avoid obstructing the space between theseangle bars in which the insertion wheel must pass. The beam 48 is formedin one piece and extends across the groove between the angle bars 40 and41 beyond the path of movement of the apparatus on the bridge, the limitof movement of which is defined by the slots 22.

In the mechanism thus far described, when the bridge member is in itslowered position, the insert apparatus may be moved beyond the edge ofthe pavement by having the axle 17 ride in the slots 22 so that theground wheels occupy the position 6 shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, andthe insertion wheel will then be in the position shown at 15'. The seal9 will then extend rearwardly beyond the end of the groove 12, the legs27 having first been swung downwardly against the action of the spring36 and held in their operative positions by means of either latch 32.The insertion wheel 15 will then be ready to enter groove 12 in thepavement to press the seal into this groove and when so positioned thebridge member will then be swung outwardly about its pivotal connectionswith the slot 22 and the extensions of the axle 17. The latches 32 arereleased to permit the legs to swing upwardly into their inoperative ortransporting positions shown in FIG. 3.

When in its lowered position, the inner edges of the tracks rest on theupper surface of the pavement, as shown in FIG. 1.

When the bridge member is in its upper position, it is preferably heldthere by means of a hook member 59 mounted on the handle 42. When thebridge member swings upwardly, the rod 28 engages the slanting edge ofthe hook forcing it backward until the rod 28 passes the hook end,whereupon the hook swings back to normal position, which supports therod 28 and the bridge member. The hook has an upwardly extending arm 62which may be engaged by the operator to release the hook from engagementwith the shaft 28.

The other means for swinging the bridge upwardly into its inoperative orinactive position comprises pins 60 mounted on the apparatus. These pinsextend into positions to engage with upwardly extending abutments 61which may be integral with the frame members 20 and 21. Consequently, asthe apparatus is moved forwardly the frame members will be swungupwardly by the engagement of the pins 60 will the abutments, due toengagement of the axle extensions 17 in the ends 55 of the slots 22.

In the use of the apparatus and bridge member described theseal-inserting apparatus is first positioned correctly with reference toa groove in the pavement by positioning the guide wheel 14 and theinsertion wheel 15 in a groove in which a seal is to be inserted. It isthen hacked to the edge of the pavement 54 where legs 29 are pulleddownward and locked in operating position by latch 32. Operator nextgently lifts leg 29 slightly while he releases hook 59 and slowly lowersbridge to rest on subgrade. The seal-inserting apparatus is then movedbeyond the edge of the pavement during which time the extensions of theaxle 17 will ride in the grooves 22 in the frame members 20 and 21, andwhen the bridge is in full lowered position, the wheels 6 of theapparatus will roll on the track members 25. The legs are locked inposition by means of the latches 32, and a part of the sealing member 9is pulled beyond the end of the pavement for manual insertion into theextension of the pavement groove in the edge 54, as was heretoforecustomary, whereupon the inserting of the seal into the horizontalpavement groove 12 can then be begun by moving the seal-insertingapparatus forwardly back onto the pavement. This forward movement causesthe bridge member to be elevated by means of the lugs 60 and abutments61 so that the bridge member is moved into the upwardly inclinedposition shown in FIG. 3 to be carried by the seal-inserting apparatus.If the lugs and abutments 61 are employed, the final position of theseparts will move the frame members 20 and 21 into positions in which theaxle parts 17 and the extensions 55 of the slots 22 will hold the bridgemember in raised position by the location of pin 60. The bridge memberwill be held in the upper position by the hook 59.

When the apparatus is moved toward the edge of the pavement and thebridge member reaches a position beyond the pavement edge, the bridgemember can move downwardly when the hook 59 is released, thus permittingthe axle parts 17 and slots to move relatively to each other.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials andarrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustratedin order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by thoseskilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with an apparatus for inserting seals into pavementgrooves,

of a bridge member mounted on an end portion of said apparatus to movewith said apparatus across the pavement without contacting therewith,

said bridge member having a pivotal connection at one end thereof withsaid apparatus,

said pivotal connection including a pivot member mounted on saidapparatus,

a longitudinal slot in said bridge member in one end of which said pivotengages for swinging said bridge member downwardly into a positionbeyond the edge of the pavement,

means for supporting the other end portion of said bridge member on thesubgrade of the pavement,

tracks on said bridge member for supporting a part of said apparatus formovement on said bridge member beyond the edge of the pavement,

said pivot member of said apparatus movable in said slot when saidbridge member is lowered into operative relation to the edge of thepavement, and said slot limiting the extent to which said apparatus maymove along said bridge member.

2. A structure according to claim 1 and including an annular extensionof said slot into which said pivot enters to raise said bridge memberrelatively to said apparatus.

3. Structure according to claim 1 in which said supporting meanscomprises a leg having upper and lower parts adjustable relatively toeach other to vary the lengths of said leg.

4. Structure according to claim 3 and including a hinged mounting forsaid leg to enable said leg to swing into a vertical operative bridgesupporting position and into an inoperative position substantiallyparallel to said bridge.

5. Structure according to claim 4 and including spring means connectedwith said leg which move said leg into said inoperative position whensaid hinge members swing upwardly.

6. Structure according to claim 5 and including a releasable latch forholding said leg in operative position against the action of saidspring.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 and including lugs on said apparatusand projections on said bridge member with which said lugs engage toswing said bridge member upwardly about the pivotal connection of saidprojecting parts in the slots, by movement of said apparatus forwardlyrelatively to said bridge member.

8. The combination with an apparatus for inserting seals into pavementgrooves and having disk means thereon to engage said seals to move theminto said grooves of a bridge member for supporting a part of saidapparatus when moved beyond the edge of the pavement, said bridge memberbeing pivotally connected at one end portion thereof to said apparatusby pins on said apparatus cooperating with elongated guides on saidbridge member to swing downwardly into a position beyond the edge of thepavement,

means for supporting the other end portion of the bridge member on thesubgrade of the pavement approximately at the level of the pavement,

tracks on said bridge member for supporting said apparatus for movementon said bridge member beyond the edge of the pavement,

said tracks having their inner ends resting on said pavement when saidbridge member extends over the subgrade of the pavement. 9. A structureaccording to claim 8 and including a portion of each of said guidesnearest to said apparatus which extend upwardly and on which said bridgemember may swing upwardly into an inoperative position when saidapparatus is moved to a position on said pavement beyond the edgethereof.

10. The combination with an apparatus for inserting seals in pavementgrooves of a bridge member for supporting a part of said apparatus whenmoved beyond the edge of the pavement, said bridge member including apair of longitudinally extending frame members each having alongitudinally extending slot therein,

projecting parts on said apparatus which constitute pivots which extendinto said slots and hold said bridge member in correct relations to saidapparatus,

said bridge member being movable about said pivots into a positionsubstantially on the level of the pavement,

supporting legs on the outer end of said bridge member for supportingsaid bridge member substantially level with the pavement,

said apparatus being movable on said bridge member when in substantiallylevel position as permitted by said pivots on said slots.

11. A device according to claim 10 in which said projecting parts onsaid apparatus are extensions of a ground wheel supporting axleextending beyond said ground wheels into said slots.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,862,612 6/1932 Thomasson 94391,916,887 7/1933 McClain 94-39 2,481,021 9/ 1949 Kempthorne 94-453,377,932 4/ 1968 Atkinson 9445 XR JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner

